Queen Of Bones | Official Trailer (HD) | Vertical

What Works

• Julia Butters, as Lily, anchors the film beautifully. Her portrayal of grief, curiosity, and quiet rebellion feels authentic and engaging. Critics frequently point to her performance as a standout. (Gazettely, Loud And Clear Reviews, FilmAffinity)

• The period atmosphere is undeniably immersive. The rural 1931 Oregon setting is rendered with texture and care—thanks to André Pienaar’s cinematography, the world feels grounded and lived-in. (Gazettely, Loud And Clear Reviews, MOVIES & MANIA)

• There’s charm in the film’s supernatural intrigue. The discovery of an Icelandic spell book and Lily’s awakening abilities offer genuine frisson, lending the story a folklore-y mystique. (UHM - UpcomingHorrorMovies, MOVIES & MANIA, showtimes.com)

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Where It Falters

• Many reviews call out the narrative’s familiarity. Themes like occult inheritance, repressive patriarchy, and budding psychic power echo genre classics without significant reinvention. (Gazettely, Loud And Clear Reviews, FilmAffinity)

• The pacing is uneven, especially after the early scenes. The story loses momentum amid subplots—like bootlegging or pendants of parental grief—that distract rather than enrich. (Loud And Clear Reviews, Gazettely, Creepy Kingdom)

• Character arcs, especially for supporting characters like Taylor Schilling’s Ida May or Martin Freeman’s Malcolm, come across as thin. The emotional stakes don’t always land, even when the film aims high. (Gazettely, Loud And Clear Reviews, Creepy Kingdom)

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What Critics Said

• Variety summed it up as "tepid overall," citing a lack of psychological depth and potency in its fantastical elements. (Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes)

• Loud and Clear Reviews called it "an average folk horror" that squanders the promise of its haunting beginnings with a disjointed and unsatisfying trajectory. (Loud And Clear Reviews)

• Gazettely was a little more generous—praising the setting and performances, but lamenting the film's failure to push beyond familiar territory. (Gazettely)

• Creepy Kingdom described the film as “visually stunning” yet marred by "uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters." (Creepy Kingdom)

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Final Take

Queen of Bones is a film that knows how to set a scene—and it does that well. If you’re drawn to atmospheric, folk-style supernatural drama and strong young performances, there’s enough to appreciate here. But if you're looking for sharp thematic depth, emotional heft, or twisty narrative structure, you might find yourself wanting more.

Ultimately, it’s a polished indie with clear intentions—but its execution feels tentative, like whispered folklore that never quite swells into a full-throated story. View it more for mood than mystery.